[SOLVED] iso for PCLOS 2012.02 KDE mini is not prepared for printer install

[lockwoodlo]

Recently I switched to a new mobo and Core i3 processor.  Was running fully updated PCLOS KDE but the HD would not boot when installed in new system.

Okay, I downloaded PCLOS KDE 2012.02 mini and finally got it to boot by using video safe mode fbdev option.  Looked great, so I installed to HD.  (Regretfully, because I lost all previous installed apps.  Such is life.)  Did the mandatory update and reboot and started loading the apps I needed which the mini version had not supplied.  Lots of work but ticking along just fine.

Then I realized that I had no printer installed.  Mine is an HP 930c and was listed correctly by lsusb.  But in PCC > Hardware > Install printer I found an icon with a plus and a minus sign.  This icon was totally inoperative.  It did nothing.  I installed hplip, cups, a bunch of stuff, but nothing helped.  I installed task-hp-printer (or whatever it's called) and that pulled in more stuff, but that icon in PCC > Hardware was still dead as a doornail.

In desperation I selected everything in Synaptic which had anything to do with printers (except things which were obviously only for other printers than mine) and that pulled in a ton of packages.  Well, somewhere in that great mass of software was the thing that was needed.  In PCC > Hardware, the icon for the printer installation was now different, and allowed me to install and configure my printer with no problem.

So, I'm a happy camper now, mostly.  I have a bunch of stuff on my hard drive that I don't really need, but that's life, I guess.

NOW THEN, I wanted to follow this thing a little farther, so I downloaded the iso's for the full KDE version (2012.02) and for both the full and the mini versions of the LXDE variant (2012.06).  The mini versions of both KDE and LXDE, in PCC > Hardware, have that totally dead icon with the plus and minus signs for Install Printer.  But the full versions of both KDE and LXDE have the functioning icon.

Upshot: I could have saved several hours' time and perplexity by using the full version instead of the mini version.

I realize that the mini version is marked for experts, and I humbly admit that I'm not an expert, but why oh why could not the mini version have permitted installation of the printer the way the full version does?

[CaptainSarcastic]

I realize that the mini version is marked for experts, and I humbly admit that I'm not an expert, but why oh why could not the mini version have permitted installation of the printer the way the full version does?

Because then it wouldn't be the mini version.  You really answered your own question here - all the stuff you had to download and install for printing is exactly why it is not included on the mini version ISOs.

[lockwoodlo]

Could be, but it hardly seems likely.  A printer is so fundamental that a CD without support for installing it seems akin to a CD with no support for ethernet.

There were at least 70 packages in that huge bundle I downloaded.  Could all of those things be necessary in order to install a single HP printer?  I now have all sorts of packages for Lexmark and Epson printers, things I have no need for.  I would think a mini version would make it unnecessary to load up with all that excess baggage.

In any case, I would have greatly appreciated some instructions for installing a printer in the mini version.  If any pointers were there, I sure didn't see them.

[daniel]

i have no printer on my notebook, so why should task-printing in mini?

[menotu]

It's mentioned that the Mini version is for "more advanced users" (and those who don't mind getting there "hands dirty".)

I'm sure if a bit of time was taken - and possibly a forum question - over which printer drivers to download/install it would be far leaner than all the packages you installed.

[lockwoodlo]

Yes, I saw that.  However, I feel as if I got not only my hands, but also my arms and face dirty.  I enjoy a challenge, but I feel as if I had solved this problem with a sledge hammer when a tack hammer would have been enough.  Maybe something like "task-printer-install-capability" in Synaptic.  Makes the system able to install a printer, then you have to choose and install whatever printer you actually have.  Didn't see anything like that.

I did spend many hours trying to find information in numerous places, including here in this forum, but saw nothing that I could use.  Every time I thought of posting a question, I wondered if there might not be some little thing that I had overlooked or not seen.  Didn't want to post a question which has an obvious answer.

I always tended to think of "mini" in the sense of "fewer included apps," but capable of bringing in whatever apps one needs and ignoring the unwanted ones.  Clean, lean and mean.  Now I'm guessing that mini also means "fewer inherent capabilities" but able to be beefed up by those who know how.  Those who know how would be the "experts" mentioned above.  I have found out that I'm not in that group.

Now turning around and walking away with tail between hind legs.

[dalrun]

So, I have the same issue and all I see is unhelpful replies. I don't expect/want any printer stuff in mini, but the printer icon in CC should get the ball rolling. All it does currently is make it so that CC cannot be closed (apparently its trying to do something in the background). What is the minimum needed to get going with a printer? What package activates the icon in control center? Where did printerdrake go?

While the OP got things working, he didn't solve the issue - it which still exists in whatever the current (03/10/13) iso is.

[daniel]

So many helpful threads about task-printing...

[Old-Polack]

So many helpful threads about task-printing...

... and so many not reading them... but still complaining instead. 

[dalrun]

If I hadn't already known about task-printing, your reply _might_ have pointed me in the right direction, but task-printing is not an in context/on topic answer.

While I was able to find printerdrake (now in system-config-printer) and while installing it should fix the CC icon/functionality issue, it and its dependencies don't qualify as minimal.

task-printing-server, drivers (printer specific or task-printing-brand) and using the cups web interface (http://localhost:631/) for configuration may be all that's needed (hard to backtrack/test at this point).

[johnmart]

Oh my....MiniMe has no printer setup   
1. Search forum *minime printing*
2. Follow advice
3. Now you are an Advanced User   

[dalrun]

Obviously you didn't try that search yourself. Do you guys not get the concept of mini/minimal. Please find me a better answer/post than my own.

[Old-Polack]

http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,112925.msg964023.html#msg964023

http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,110093.msg939993.html#msg939993

Obviously you didn't try that search yourself. Do you guys not get the concept of mini/minimal. Please find me a better answer/post than my own.

Yes we do. The problem here is that you don't seem to.

[johnmart]

Obviously you didn't try that search yourself. Do you guys not get the concept of mini/minimal. Please find me a better answer/post than my own.

Well, actually I did try that exact search & got a page full of returns.
But if you came to solve your problem, looks ike there is a solution for you listed here.
If you want to complain about MiniMe,,,,,,well OK, well noted. But you  are in a lonely spot. It is actually very popular among PCLOS users, just like it is. 
Just install the full KDE version,,,,,, and get on with things.

[dalrun]

Your first link says system-config-printer, task-printing  and 330MB of packages are needed to add printing to minime. While I'm sure it works, its simplistic overkill and its not "the minimum needed to get going with a printer" that I asked about. I have a working printer and neither of those packages are installed.

I'm not sure what the point of the second link was: "I also prefer adding what I want over removing what I don't need." So why should that include adding things I don't need, e.g.  installing all the printer drivers in the repository as suggested by the first link.

...I'm not complaining about MiniMe. Either you guys aren't paying attention, or I'm doing a lousy job of communicating. I've been using MiniMe since before it existed (Mandrake custom install).